Marseille secured a narrow 1-0 victory against struggling Auxerre on Friday thanks to a late goal from substitute Amine Gouiri. The forward found the net with 11 minutes left to play, delivering the decisive moment that separated the two teams.
Gouiri entered the match in the 62nd minute, replacing English defender CJ Egan-Riley. His impact proved crucial, as the Algeria international produced the only goal of the evening to secure all three points for the home side.
The late breakthrough ensured Marseille overcame determined resistance from Auxerre and avoided dropping points in a tightly contested encounter.
Marseille maintains position in the standings
The win kept the South Coast club in third place in the Ligue 1 table. Their advantage over fourth-placed Lyon stands at three points, although Lyon still has to play Le Havre on Sunday.
Despite the victory, Marseille remain some distance from the teams above them in the standings. They trail second-placed Lens by seven points and are eight points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Throughout the season the club has consistently remained among the sides competing for European qualification next year, though results since the beginning of the calendar year have not always been steady.
Gouiri’s return brings added threat
Gouiri’s contribution has become increasingly important since his return to action. The attacker had been sidelined for nine matches after suffering a shoulder injury in October.
Since rejoining the squad in early January, the Algeria international has added a significant scoring presence. His goal against Auxerre marked his fifth since returning to the lineup.
For Auxerre, the defeat extended a difficult run of form. The club remains third from bottom in the standings, having managed only one victory in their last 11 matches, and they sit five points away from safety.